Market Index QA.pdf

Questions and Responses Solicitation 12318726Q0224 - Market Index Prices

1. For the requirement that the indices be representative of Western sawmill production and achieve a sampling error of no more than 5% at a 95% confidence level, can you provide additional detail on what this is based off and how the Forest Service expects contractors to demonstrate compliance?

The selected contractor will likely be surveying, polling, purchasing data, or utilizing other means for collecting data and generating the indices both from the lumber invoices and mill inputs. The contractor needs to build their system or processes to address data collection to meet a 5% error at confidence levels of 95% or better and should describe how they will maintain accuracy of data, audit data, and provide general quality control of the data. Contractor’s specific data and processes for ensuring accuracy may be requested and must be provided to the Agency upon request for auditing and compliance purposes.

2. Can you provide additional detail on the grade recovery data collection requirement? Specifically, what information is expected to be collected monthly and what is the current process?

Contractors are to collect data or develop grade recovery processes that allow the contractor to accurately develop an index log representative of all the lumber products and species (if blended).

Contractors could choose from mill surveys, purchased data, existing networks, etc. The contractor may achieve these results in a manner or timeframe that suits their data collection needs but must produce the indices monthly and quarterly. The task is described as monthly due to the deliverables being monthly.

3. Regarding the Index-Log Update Methodology and subsequent development of new index logs, does the Forest Service have an existing methodology, index-log structure, or historical documentation that will be provided to the successful contractor, or is the contractor expected to develop a new methodology independently?

The methodology is expected to be developed independently by the contractor and the resources the contractor has available. The developed methodology must incorporate the different species and grades that are representative of the various lumber products produced in western sawmills.

There will be one index log for each of the seven species groups included in the solicitation. Each index log should be described with the lumber products included and the percent of each product represented in the index log. The methodology for pricing the index logs from the lumber sales data needs to be described by the contractor. Index log structure and historical documentation may be provided to the selected contractor after reviewing for any proprietary processes and privileged information from previous contracts.

4. For the required lumber price indices, are there specific products, dimensions, grades, regions, or other specifications within each species group that must be represented? If so, will the existing index definitions/specifications be provided? Can you provide a list of the specific prices needed?

Indices are to be based on the sales price of lumber shipped and the mix of products included in the indices must be representative of lumber production from sawtimber in western sawmills, as described by the contractor in their proposal. This price may be collected at the time of shipping or the time of order. The contractor is to develop and publish two monthly indices with seven total species. The PNW Coast index will include Douglas fir and a hemlock-fir species mix. The Inland index will include sugar pine, inland red cedar, Douglas fir-larch, and white woods. Each species should have a monthly aggregate index price of the products, dimensions, and grades the contractor is utilizing. See table 1 in solicitation for the geographic area descriptions, species

Questions and Responses Solicitation 12318726Q0224 - Market Index Prices definitions, and index price per unit of measure requirements as well as a general format. Note this solicitation does not include the coastal or inland ponderosa pine.

5. Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

Please review the solicitation page 23 . This information is provided.

6. Question 1: FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting

The solicitation is unrestricted (SF-1449 Block 10 is marked “Unrestricted,” and SAM.gov lists “No set aside used”). However, FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Nov 2025), is listed among the clauses incorporated in the solicitation.

a. Does FAR 52.219-14 apply to the resulting contract?

b. If so, what percentage of the cost of contract performance must the prime contractor perform with its own employees, and which work does that apply to?

c. If the clause does not apply, will the Government issue an amendment removing it from the solicitation?

This clause will only apply should the ensuing contract be awarded to a socioeconomic group vendor. Otherwise, it will be removed at award.